I think my parents recognised that I'd always wanted to be a writer, and so they didn't think that this was some idle, faddish wish on my part.

Even though I went to Exeter and Yale, and I enjoyed all the trappings of those places, I think at the same time - and maybe it's because I'm an immigrant kid and not white - there was always this other consciousness; that is, I was conscious of everything that was going on.

Most people don't think about race as much as I do. They don't have to.

I think that all the anger and cynicism comes from suppressing things that we always wanted.

I often think that the prime directive for me as a teacher of writing is akin to that for a physician, which is this: do no harm.

My parents - my mother, particularly - were very focused on our succeeding. I loved my parents, and was very grateful to them for everything, and I didn't want to disappoint them.